LONGMONT, Colo. — Two people died in a crash Friday morning on U.S. 287 in Boulder County, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The crash happened about 8:40 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the highway north of Yellowstone Road, between Longmont and Berthoud, according to CSP and Mountain View Fire Rescue.
U.S. 287 was closed for an extended amount of time between Yellowstone Road and Caballero Street. It reopened about 2:40 p.m.
On Tuesday the Boulder County coroner's office identified the two men who died as 33-year-old Timothy Diefenbach and 36-year-old John Berry.
There was also another crash about 8:50 a.m. on U.S. 287 near the intersection with Horseshoe Circle that involved four vehicles. One of the drivers in that crash was a Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputy, CSP said.
The at-fault driver, a 31-year-old woman, was seriously injured. At least one other person was seriously injured.
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The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) provides these tips for safe driving in Colorado:
- Expect the unexpected
- Slow down
- Don't tailgate
- Be aware of emergency crews
- Heed signs
- Obey flaggers
- Stay alert and minimize distractions
- Keep with the traffic flow
- Plan your drive
- Be patient and stay calm
It is also important to be aware of emergency vehicles.
Colorado's Move Over Law requires drivers to move over a lane when there’s an emergency situation along the shoulder. If the driver can’t move over, they must slow down significantly to avoid an accident.
The law was implemented in 2005 and strengthened in 2020. A CDOT news release states: "The updated law stipulates that if a driver is unable to move at least one lane away from the stationary emergency vehicle, the driver must slow down to at least 25 miles per hour on roadways with a speed limit below 45 miles per hour. On roadways with speed limits 45 miles per hour or more, motorists must slow down to 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. Drivers that fail to slow down or move over commit the crime of careless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense that can result in up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300."
CDOT recommends people check COtrip.org to find out about road conditions, construction zones, and traffic alerts.
9NEWS also provides traffic updates and alerts through the 9NEWS app.
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